SPORTS
Only 17 of the 18 teams that qualified for the 2023 event are participating after two-time defending CHAN champions Morocco were not authorized to fly into Algeria. The issue stems from the tense relations and ongoing disputes between the two neighboring countries Morocco and Algeria which led to Algeria cutting diplomatic ties in 2021 and closing its airspace.
Although the Moroccan team was at the Rabat airport as late as Friday, the green light to fly into Algeria was never granted and the team did not pursue other travel options that would have circumvented the travel ban. No word yet from the African Football Confederation (CAF) as to how the tournament will be reshuffled without the defending champions.
According to the 2023 CHAN fixtures, Morocco was expected to play Sudan today at 16:00hrs in their first match. In this very group are other countries like Ghana and Magadascar.
What is CHAN?
The African Nations Championship (CHAN) is a tournament established in 2009 to run biennially to help develop and promote the domestic game in Africa. It’s a showcase for players based in Africa with many earning transfers to major European clubs on the back of their performances in the tournament.
The CHAN tournament differs from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in one major way, restricting team squads only to players currently plying their trade in their home country’s domestic league. Therefore, for example, Riyad Mahrez is not eligible to play for Algeria, since he plays for Manchester City in England and not for an Algerian domestic club.
Uganda Cranes began their journey at this year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a goalless draw against Democratic Republic of Congo in the game played on yesterday.
Despite marching Democratic Republic of Congo for the larger part of the game, the unending question about inability to score goals came to the fore again.
